I’m
not in love…
I’m not in love…
I will never let myself fall in love with Tristan Wilder.
And maybe if I tell myself this a thousand times, I’ll believe it.
Having lost his parents to a tragic accident when he was a child, wealthy hotel
heir Remi (Julian Remington III) refuses to form intimate emotional bonds,
fearing a repeat of the crushing loss that destroyed his youth. This means no
deep friendships, no heartfelt family ties, and God forbid should he ever fall
in love… Well, it’s safe to say he will never let that happen.
However, as a senior at the most prestigious art college in Garner City—his
last year of freedom before he’s required to take his place at the top of the
Remington family empire—Remi freely explores sexual intimacy with
“distractingly” beautiful men. And he does so with enthusiasm—how better to
distract himself from the temptation to experience tender human connection?
Remi’s plans for emotional isolation are shook up when he meets Tristan Wilder,
a nude model for his life drawing class. Stunningly beautiful from head to
toe—and inside his heart, as well—Tristan struggles to scrape together enough
money to support his twin sister, Tara, and her three young children. Like
Remi, “Uncle Tris” is unwilling to enter a romantic relationship—his
responsibility to family is all-consuming. As the men take a chance on casual
friendship, Remi comes to admire Tristan’s devotion to his family. And with
Remi’s surprisingly doting attention to Tara’s children, he works his way into
Tristan’s heart.
Tristan is finally all in, but can commitment phobic Remi lower his walls
enough to allow Tristan—and the entire Wilder family—into his heart?
Book
1
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In the interest of assisting a fellow human being in need, I approach him. It’s the right thing to do and not much of a sacrifice. “Hey, Tristan. If you’d like, I’ll show you the door.” My heroics know no limits.
“You’ll show me the door?” he repeats, his expression a study in bewildered symmetry.
I chuckle. “That probably came out wrong.” Although it’s exactly what I said to Joey Ramirez in my bedroom late last night after our intimate interaction was a fait accompli. “What I mean is, I’ll lead you to the exit. This place is a mouse maze.”
Tristan turns to face me, and even before he smiles—exposing (unsurprisingly) toothpaste-ad quality straight white teeth—I’m again blown away by his regal bone structure. I blink once, and deliberately, in my attempt to collect myself. He is far from the first beautiful boy I’ve laid eyes upon. In fact, I see one every day in my very own bathroom mirror when I’m brushing my toothpaste-ad teeth.
Here’s a novel idea, Remi… How about you get a hold of yourself?
Tristan is just another pretty face.
“I appreciate the help,” he says, still smiling. “I’d get lost trying to find my way out of a paper bag.”
His self-deprecating tone is rich and velvety, eliciting memories of the warm Swiss cocoa my mother served on Friday nights as we settled on the formal couch in the parlor to watch a Disney movie and wait for my father’s return from the Remington Plaza Corporate Headquarters. Weekends were reserved for family. They were the very best of times.
My eyes burn, so I shove away the memories. I’m supposed to be the one disarming him.
Angie
– ☆☆☆☆
I usually don't care for hurt/comfort books, but the book blurb caught my eye
and I decided to give it a go. I wasn't disappointed. Remi and Tristan come
from two different worlds and have two different paths in mind for their lives.
When these two cross paths, it's instant attraction. While Remi is a hit it and
quit it kind of guy, Tristan doesn't have time for that. These two form a
friendship and it leads them both to feelings they didn't want or expect. I
loved watching this relationship unfold. I laughed and cried and cheered them
on. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one in the series.
Ruthie
– ☆☆☆
This is an enjoyable read, with a good mix of cheeky lust, family, and destiny.
Remi has one last year on his art degree before he has to knuckle down and run
the family empire. He enjoys every minute of his course, but little more than
the life classes, especially when the new model is so perfect. Tristan is
hardly holding everything together, but he certainly is trying.
These are two very different people who actually find they had more in common
than they could ever have expected. I enjoyed them taking a chance, and coming
to terms with what matters and what really doesn't. I did find the time Remi
spent with the children to be a clever way of thawing his heart!
I should also give a shout out to Remi's grandfather, who finally grew some and
gave Remi his approval.
Award-winning gay romance author and
mother of four, MIA KERICK, knows that a satisfying romance novel is riddled
with challenges. For true love to prevail, the leading men are going to have to
put in some effort. But the happily ever after is oh-so rewarding.
From Jane Eyre’s Mr. Rochester to Brokeback Mountain’s Ennis and Jack,
Mia has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature. Her contemporary
gay romance focuses on such steamy tropes as hurt/comfort, forbidden love, and
enemies/friends to lovers. She firmly believes that sometimes a lover has to
break his heart to save him. In Kerick’s books, the course of true love truly
never does run smooth.
Mia’s books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine. They have won a 2019
IPPY GOLD award for Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction, a 2018 YA GOLD MOONBEAM
Children’s Book Award, a YA Readers’ Favorite Award, several Gold Rainbow
Awards in YA and adult categories, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity
Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, a YA
Indie Fab Award, a First Place Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, a First
Place Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award, a Bronze Medal for Readers’
Favorite Young Adult Romance, and more.
Mia cheers for each victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major
regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to
a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of
Technology.
Connect with Mia
Kerick
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads
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Group: Mia's Lost Boys
Hosted by
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided
a free copy of I'm Not in Love (Don't Let Go #1) by Mia Kerick to read and
review.
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